ATHENS, Ohio -- The winter series of Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine's Geriatric Education Series continues Monday, Feb. 16, with Kimberly Hale, speech language pathologist for Therapy Tech Inc., presenting "Dysphagia Assessment Part 2." This is the second part of the presentation she gave June 2, 2003. The seminar will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in conference room B-9 at O'Bleness Memorial Hospital.

Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder. A swallowing dysfunction can cause other problems such as recurrent pneumonias, malnutrition, weight loss and nasal drippage. It can occur, or is frequently seen, with other disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, neuromuscular disorders, urinary tract infections, and dehydration.

Hale will discuss treatment options for dysphagia. "This includes direct therapy from a speech-language pathologist, as well as diet alterations and medication review," she said. The role of the speech-language pathologist with other medical professionals will also be a focus of the presentation.

Health-care professionals are invited to attend the seminar. Brown bags are welcome. For more information, call the Geriatric Education Center at (740) 593-2258. Each lecture in this series of Geriatric Medicine/ Gerontology seminars is held from noon to 1 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of each month at O'Bleness, B-9.

This is the third seminar in the winter series. The first was Jan. 5, with Frank Schwartz, M.D., presenting "AHRI Diabetes/Endocrine Center: The Vision." The second seminar, "Urinary Incontinence in the Elderly," was presented by Allison Batchelor, M.D., Feb. 2. The spring series begins March 1 with Steven Clay, D.O., presenting "Influences in Prescribing Patterns."

"The seminars are designed for an interdisciplinary audience," said Ellen Peterson, R.N., OU-COM geriatric education coordinator. "Health professionals from the community regularly attend, in addition to interns, residents and medical students. The diversity of disciplines represented by the participants makes far an interesting exchange of ideas."

The sponsors of the seminars include OU-COM's Department Geriatric Medicine/Gerontology, the Western Reserve Geriatric Education Center and Area Health Education Center, and the Consortium for Health Education in Appalachia Ohio.

Peterson said the seminar series was started by a federal grant that established OU-COM as a contribution site to the Western Reserve Geriatric Education Center in September 1994 and has supported many continuing education programs. Provided by the Department of Health and Human Services, the grant supports educational programs in geriatric and gerontology for physicians, nurses, social workers, counselors, and health-care providers to 22 Southeastern Ohio counties.